English - CEDAW Southeast Asia

CEDAW and the Law:
Recommendation: It is also suggested that the proportion of women in leadership
positions in State agencies, political and socio-political organizations must not be
lower than 30 percent. MOFA must be required to draft a plan reflecting progressive
compliance with the 30 percent proportion in both leadership and staff positions within
a specific time-frame with monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and resources
to ensure compliance, including sanctions for failure to abide by the plan for no justifiable
reasons.
In the Combined Fifth and Sixth Period Report, it was mentioned that the proportion of
women working for international organizations is on the rise, averaging over 50 percent of the
total workforce. 386 In 2002-2003, the figures were 56.00 percent and 56.55 percent respectively.
Around 40 percent of project officers and assistants of international organizations are
women; and, in 2002, the figure was 50.86 percent. The percentage of women holding other
positions, such as secretary and interpreter, was over 35 percent, even reaching 45 percent
in 2000 but declining afterwards. The proportion of women doing supporting work at project
offices of international organizations remains low, averaging 17 percent and tends to drop.
The Combined Fifth and Sixth Period Report proceeds to state that in international level
activities, many women working for government agencies, people's friendship associations
and mass organizations had opportunities to represent the Government at international forums
and external activities. Depending on the nature of the activities, the increase of female participation
ranges between 40 and 50 percent in the activities. Many female officials had the
opportunity to accompany leaders of the State, Communist Party of Viet Nam and Government
in visits to foreign countries or international conferences. Many women hold key positions in
important bilateral and multilateral negotiations, including those for Viet Nam’s World Trade
Organization (WTO) accession. 387
The degree and level of female involvement must be further analysed. First, are women
provided leadership roles in their participation in international organizations and international
level activities Second, in what fields do women participate at the international levels Are
they consigned to ‘soft’ areas or areas that are viewed as ‘female fields’, such as women’s
rights, heath and education, or have they been included in ‘hard’ areas such as issues relating
to security, trade and finance
190
Recommendation: There is a need to obtain further information on this area,
especially in relation to whether women are in leadership positions in international
organizations or international level activities, as well as whether women participate in
a whole range of activities at the international level or are limited to areas considered
as traditionally ‘female fields’. Increased capacity-building activities must be in place to
enable women to take up responsibilities in a wider field of international level activities,
especially in those areas that are predominantly male-dominated.
386
Combined Fifth and Sixth Periodic Report, p. 27
387
Combined Fifth and Sixth Periodic Report, p. 27
Review of key legal documents and compliance with CEDAW